Shelters could be built anywhere under new zoning rules

Good morning! 

Today's newsletter is a little shorter on the news front as I was out all day interviewing candidates for our provincial election riding profiles coming out next week. A big thanks to you to all the Lookout readers who sent in your questions and ideas. 

Today we have a story on changes that could be coming to zoning, which would allow for shelters to be built anywhere in the city. Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, managing editor

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X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Friday: -3 🌡️ -13 | 🌤️

Saturday: -4 🌡️ -11 | 🌤️

Sunday: -4 🌡️ -18 | ☁️ 

Monday: -7 🌡️ -17 | 🌤️

NUMBERS

📬 50: The number of Canada Post managers facing layoffs this week. It comes after a 20 per cent cut for senior management roles. [CBC]

🚊 5: Here are five commonly asked questions about what it means to upload Ottawa's LRT network to the province. [CBC] 

📺 16: The number of tickets handed out to distracted Ottawa drivers on Thursday morning. One was for a man watching TV behind the wheel. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏠 $49: The average rent increase seen in Ottawa this January. A new report also states Kanata rents are among the highest in Ontario. [CTV]

CITY HALL

Ottawa shelters could be allowed in all communities due to new zoning rules

Fast tracking: Ottawa’s zoning rules could be loosened to allow for emergency and transitional shelters to be built anywhere in Ottawa. 

During the city’s planning committee meeting on Feb. 5, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper brought forward a motion that would permit the shelters in all urban zones. Such a decision was already supposed to be made in a few months, but Leiper said he was anxious to fast-track the process given Ottawa’s homelessness crisis and uncertainty over the amount of newcomers seeking refugee status here.

• “Our official plan calls for the removal of all restrictions for zoning in shelter use. We are currently in the process of updating our comprehensive zoning bylaw. At the end of December, that change would have been made,” Leiper told the Lookout.  “However I can anticipate over the course of the next 11 months there might be a need to put shelters in zones where they aren’t currently allowed. Speaking with city staff I felt it would be wise to accelerate that initiative.” 

So what will that do exactly? It will give the staff flexibility to locate shelters in the places which make the most sense to them without having to go to committee to seek rezoning.

There is one exception: The proposed Sprung structure for the Eagleson Park and Ride in Kanata on Hearst Way. Leiper said that’s because residents have been promised a zoning hearing for the site and the Kitchissippi representative wanted to be “sensitive to the commitment that had been made.”

The same rules will not apply to the Sprung structure proposed on the football field of the former Confederation Heights High School near the Nepean Sportsplex. The Woodroffe Avenue site already had its zoning permissions changed to allow for a shelter to be built there. 

The motion had strong support: Ten members voted to support the zoning changes for shelters with only one opposed. That lone wolf was Barrhaven East Coun. Wilson Lo who said he wasn’t comfortable fast-tracking a process that was already set out by council. 

• “The larger zoning bylaw item comes with a process council already agreed with which is a second round of public consultations when the second round comes out in the spring. The official plan speaks to this and makes it inevitable it’s going to happen anyway,” Lo told the Lookout. “Half of the controversy we faced last year with Sprung structures came from a lack of communication and transparency. Doing that again is going to hurt the city’s reputation more for something that's redundant and will happen in six months anyways.”

Lo wanted an amendment: The Barrhaven East councillor put forward a motion which would have required 1005/1045 Greenbank Rd. and 3311 Woodroffe Ave. to seek rezoning approval before shelters could go up there. Both were shortlisted sites for Sprung structures in the summer which drew backlash from the community. They were later removed from the list for a variety of reasons. 

Even so the Nepean Woods land on Woodroffe is still technically listed for if another location was required — sort of. The city has committed to only building the two Sprung structures in Kanata and Nepean. But when they were announced, the Barrhaven site scored third out of over 90 properties.

Old wounds were recently reopened in Barrhaven when concerns were raised over possible contamination at the Nepean site. While it’s unlikely the Sprung structure would change places because the city said it doesn’t pose a risk, Lo said he still has fears the topic could be discussed in the future. His motion was shot down with 10 nays. Only Lo was in support. 

Lo then brought forward a second motion to remove the rules from applying to suburban communities, suggesting it should only apply to downtown, inner urban, and outer urban areas. But that, too was axed by 10 votes against. 

The Barrhaven councillor now thinks it’s time the definition of a shelter changes.

• “The definition of shelter is very broad In the zoning bylaw and official plan. It  includes everything from small-scale stuff like a women’s shelter that buys a house in a neighborhood to the big shelters downtown. Being broad means anything can go in,” said Lo. “What are we trying to achieve? Why do we want to expand the shelter system when the city’s goal is housing? Suburban communities just like Barrhaven all have small-scale shelters and group homes that contribute positively into that goal of housing first. For me seeing an expansion of the shelter system goes against that. At the same time there are some shelters needed regardless like shelters for women fleeing domestic violence.”

Leiper disagrees: He said none of this rules out public consultation with the community. The city is in support of amending the bylaw now because it might mean it is better placed to take advantage of federal and provincial funding that could come down the pipe later this year to help the city’s housing and homelessness crisis. 

• “We need a lot more help from our federal and provincial partners in order to address the homelessness crisis. Shelter is not an optimal solution, it’s not housing, but we are going to be forced to build more and more shelter in the absence of dollars for things like supportive housing,” said Leiper. “So I have to imagine the crisis will get worse before it gets better without a significant additional infusion of cash from other levels of government."   

What happens next? At this point, it’s not a done deal, and it will go to council on Wednesday. While Lo said he plans to keep fighting the fast track, it’s expected that council will side with the planning committee. 

CAPITAL EATS

Much ado about Mr. Maocai 

Here’s something unique for Ottawa: Mr. Maocai is a restaurant chain from China and Ottawa is home to its first international location. The Szechaun restaurant is a winner. But it's their tea that has our food editor floored.

THE AGENDA

💉 You might recall the community of Wellington West was up in arms after an addictions treatment clinic opened in the Hintonburg community. It led to a rise of open drug use and other illegal activities. Now Northwood Recovery intends to move out of the Kitchissippi community to a new home in Centretown. Reaction is mixed to the move.  [Kitchissippi Times]

🃏 A wave of nostalgia has driven up the value of Pokemon cards, making them a target for thieves. As a result, Ottawa hobby stores are upping security in response. One Orleans store was broken into last Canada Day after being opened for only a month. In just 53 seconds, thieves took off with $10,000 worth of products, including Pokemon cards. [CBC]

👮‍♂️ An Eganville man has pleaded guilty to sending indecent messages to an OCDSB trustee and family doctor Nili Kaplan-Myrth. The proud Jewish physician received threatening voice messages in 2023, including one purporting to be from ”Mr. Hitler.” Oz Wheeler has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment. A sentencing date had not been set. [Ottawa Citizen]

🌉 The mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau are calling on the federal and provincial governments to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers to boost economic growth in the national capital region and address the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette issued a joint statement on interprovincial barriers ahead of the Big City Mayors’ Caucus meeting in Ottawa. [CTV]

🚊 The OC Transpo union is opposing both the Progressive Conservative and Ontario Liberal party’s plans to upload the city’s LRT system to the province. “Metrolinx is no different than the Consortium used in Ottawa – it’s a Private Public Partnership (P3) model where a Consortium of private companies do the work and maintain the transit service for 30 years for healthy profits and no accountability,” a press release read. [CTV]

👩‍⚕️ Two Pembroke area doctors have finally been given the green light to open up a practice seven years after jumping through hoops. The couple were able to practice in the Middle East, Dubai, and the United Kingdom, but were not immediately eligible to give care in Canada. [CTV]

🐎 The Ottawa Police is looking for a new home for its new Mounted Patrol Unit. The team of eight horses is designed to help officers with specialized operations, which includes crowd control during events or demonstrations. Four of the horses will start to be seen around the Capital this spring. [CTV]

🔥 Human remains have been found after a house fire in Bancroft earlier this week. They are expected to be of the homeowner who is still unaccounted for. The Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating the cause. [CBC]

🚊 Due to success with the Trillium line, OC Transpo is starting to cut back parallel B2 service between Monday and Saturday. It will now run only twice per hour instead of every 15 minutes. Service will continue four times an hour on Sunday until train service begins on that day in a few weeks. [Ottawa Citizen]

🧑‍🚒 Three Ottawa firefighters were lucky to avoid injury after the ceiling of a burning home on River Road collapsed over them on Thursday. The collapse occurred about two hours after the first 9-1-1 call came in. No injuries were reported and the cause of the blaze is under investigation. [Ottawa Citizen]

🚒 One person had to be taken to hospital following a fire on Meadowlands Drive Wednesday afternoon. The blaze was under control in less than half an hour and avoided spreading to other units. [CTV]

After many years of decline, HIV cases are increasing in Ottawa. Anyone who wants to get tested can do so through a nurse practitioner or at the Ottawa Public Health’s Sexual Health Clinic. [CTV]

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

If you’re looking for a townhome on a budget, then this property is for you. Located in the Hunt Club park area, it has two bedrooms and three bathrooms. Some key features include: A scenic view of the trees, an open-concept kitchen, and a seating area with large bay windows.

For this price a little less square footage won’t hurt you. 

EVENTS

The Official Capital Hoops After Party (19+) I Hyde & Seek I Feb. 7, 11 pm I Tickets $11.98

Capital Hoops I Arena at TD Place I Feb. 7, 6 pm I Tickets $25.46 

Bob Marley’s 80th Birthday Bash I Bar Robol I Feb. 7, 8 pm I Tickets $11.98

Bruno Pelletier - Miserere: 25e anniversaire I Théâtre du Casino Lac-Leamy I Feb. 7-8, 8 pm I Prices Vary

My Family Valentine Party I NUVO Lounge I Feb. 8, 7 pm I Tickets $7.50-$10

SNOWGA 2 I Lansdowne Park I Feb. 8, 12 pm I Free

613flea I Aberdeen Pavilion I Feb. 8, 10 am I Free

Kirtan at the Glebe I Glebe Community Center I Feb. 9, 1 pm I Free

Lansdowne Farmer’s Market I 1000 Exhibition Way I Feb. 9, 9 am I Free

Ottawa 67’s I TD Place at Lansdowne I Feb. 9, 2 pm I Prices vary

Illusions The Drag Brunch Ottawa - Drag Queen Brunch Show | 104 Clarence St. | Feb. 8, 4:30 pm | From $27.96 

Diefenbunker Winter Carnival |Outdoor Rink at Huntley Community Centre, 108 Juanita Ave | Feb. 15 | Free

African Day on the Hill | Collège La Cité, 801 Aviation Parkway | Feb. 15 | Free

Unravel Ottawa’s mysteries with our exciting outdoor escape game! | Parliament of Canada | Now until April 9th 

Laugh Lounge Pro Comedy Nights | 61 York St. | Every Friday and Saturday, 8:30 pm | From $25.50

City LOVE Scavenger Hunt for Couples Date Night! - Ottawa Area | 120 Metcalfe St. | Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays | From $12.51 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here is a different take as to why some Ottawa residents don’t want a new interprovincial bridge that crosses Kettle Island. [Ottawa Citizen]

• A look at how Matthew House settles newcomers in 90 days. [Ottawa Citizen]

• La Bottega Nicastro reflects on three decades in the ByWard Market. [Ottawa Business Journal]

• Here is a list of places where you can buy local in Eastern Ontario. [Ottawa Business Journal]

• Here is a list of new Winterlude activities taking place this year. [Kitchissippi Times] 

• Want to try winter fitness classes at the Dominion Arboretum? [Kitchissippi Times]

• A look at Ottawa’s best sit-down restaurants from 2024. [Capital Eats]

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